Bottle-charging mechanism



May 17, 1932.

J. R. GRUETTER BOTTLE CHARGING MECHANISM FiledSept. '14, 1929 In &

6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 14, '1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 gal??? y 1 J. R.GRUETTER 1,859,238

BOTTLE cnmeme MECHANISM Filed Sept. 14, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet I5 May 17,1932. J. R. GRUETTER BOTTLE CHARGING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 14, 1929 6Sheets-Sheet 4 May 1?, 1932- J. R. GRUETTER BOTTLE CHARGING MECHANISMFiled Sept. 14, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 dbbonwq 5 May 17, 1932.

J. R. GRUETTER BOTTLE CHARGING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 14, 1929 6Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented May 1'7, 193:2

STATES rarest entice JOHN R. GRUETTER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TOTHE LIQUED CARBONIC COR- PORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COBPORATIQNOF DELAWARE BOTTLE-CHARGING MECHANISM Application filed September 14,1929. Serial No. 392,663..

This invention relates to bottle-cleaning apparatus and moreparticularly to mechanism for charging series of bottles into series ofbottle supports in such an apparatus. The invention is designed forusein bottle cleaning apparatus of the type wherein bottles are advancedintermittently through such apparatus while supported upon transverseseries of seats, each series of seats forming across member of anendless conveyor.

It is the general purpose and'object of the invention to provide forbottle-cleaning mechanism employing such transverse series of bottlesupports charging mechanism which will enable the bottles to bedelivered into the successive series of supports with maximum rapidityand without danger of breakage.

Further and more limited objects of the invention will appearhereinafter and will be realized in and through the combinations ofelements embodied in the claims and in and through the construction andarrangement of parts illustrated in the drawings wherein Fig. 1represents a plan view of a portion of my charging mechanism; Fig. 2 atransverse sectional view through suchmechauism; Fig. 3 a longitudinalsectional view through such mechanism; Fig. 4 a detail in elevation ofthe main cam and the cooperating portions of the means for operating,the charging mechanism; Fig. 5 a similar View of the charging mechanismand the operating rods therefor; and Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 arediagrammatic sectional views showing the positions of the partscomprising my charging mechanism while completing a cycle of operationsinvolved in receiving a series of bottles and delivering the same to aseries of bottle supports.

Describing the various parts by reference characters, A (Fig. 5) denotesthe front or receiving end a. bottle washing machine, the said machinehaving therein transverse series of bottle supports, indicated at B (seeFigs. 6 to 9).

Secured to uprights A at the front of the main frame of the saidapparatus are heavy brackets C. said brackets projecting forwardly fromsuch end and providing a support for the bottle-charging mechanism andthe front connections for operating the same. The charging mechanismcomprises generally a table havinga transverse series of longitudinallyextending grooves, the rear ends of which are arranged to registersuccessively with transverse series of bottle supports or carriers B, asthe latter are moved intermittently through the apparatus in the usualmanner; a pivoted transfertray having grooves therein adapted toregister at their rear ends with the front ends of the first mentionedgrooves; a receiving platform on which the bottles to be loaded onto thetray are deposited and from which they are delivered onto said tray; amovable rack for delivering the bottles from said platform to said tray;and means for moving the bottles bodily from the transfer tray onto thegrooves on the table and thence into the appropriate series of bottlecarriers or supports.

The receiving and delivering table D is secured to and between'the frontends of a pair of arms E each pivoted adjacent toits front end on ashaft F and each having a slot E extending substantially the full lengththereof, the front end of each slot being curved on a radius describedfrom the center of the shaft F, fora purpose to be explainedhereinafter. The front ends of the arms E are pivotally and adjustablysupported from the brackets C by bolts E pivoted at their lower ends tolugs C and having their upper ends extending through slots E provided inlugs E extending laterally from the front ends of the arms E, each boltE having adjusting nuts E thereon, located above and below the lug E.

The table D consists of a base D which is supported from the arms E bymeans of bottom cross membersD D resting upon lugs E E projecting fromthe bottoms of the arms E. The cross member D is in the shape of anangle bar, the vertical flange of which engages the vertical flangesdepending from the forward ends of the lugs E the vertical flanges ofsaid lugs having each a forward extension E which receives an adjustingscrew E The base D may be of sheet metal, having applied to the uppersurface thereof a plurality of truncated inverted V-shaped ribs Dproviding grooves D therebetween, the front ends of said ribs beingbeveled, as shown atD to facilitate the delivery of bottles thereintofrom the swinging transfer tray.

Each arm E is pivotally mounted upon the shaft F by hubs E which aremounted upon a sleeve F rotatable on said shaft, the shaft being heldagainst rotation by means 'of the set screws F The receiving andtransfer tray consists of a base G having on the upper surface thereof acushion G, of rubber or other suitable yieldable material, and on saidcushion there is a series of longitudinally extending inverted truncatedV-shaped ribs G preferably of wood, and providing grooves or chutes Grtherebetween which are adapted to receive the bottles H and to registerat their rear ends with the front ends of the grooves or chutes D Thetray is pivotally mounted upon the shaft by means of bracket arms G eachhaving a split sleeve G at the bottom thereof whereby it may be clampedabout the rotary sleeve F by a bolt G A tie rod Gr connects the rearwardends of the said bracket arms.

It will be noted that the rear end of the tray G is adjustably supportedupon the tops of the screws E thus enabling the grooves or chutes G tobe brought into register with the grooves or chutes D.

For the purpose of rotating the tray G, each bracket arm Gr is providedat its front end with an upwardly extending lug G in which is adjustablymounted a screw G which screws are adapted to be engaged by a cross barJ having its extreme ends mounted for reciprocationin slotsJ provided inthe upper ends of rocking arms J 2 mounted on a shaft K.

G denotes an apron which is secured to inward extensions of the lugs Gby means of bolts G extending through said lugs and a flange G on saidapron see Figs. 1 and 3) The forwardly extending portion of this apronis curved on a radius described from the center of the shaft F and, whenthe tray 7 is in its delivering position as shown in Fig. 3, the lowerend of this apron extends below the rear end of the receiving platformL.

V The platform referred to consists generally of a sheet metal base Lhaving its on posite ends supported by cushions L of rubber or similaryielding material on seats C at the front ends of the bracket 0. Thefront is mounted a pad L of rubber or similar cushioning material, andthe said pad in turn is covered by a thin. metal sheet L For the purposeof moving the bottles from the platform L to the tray G, I provide arocking delivery rack having grooves for the bodies of the bottles andwhich rack is pivotally supported by arms so that, by moving the saidarms the bottles will be swept rearwardly across the platform anddeposited between the ribs upon the tray G. M denotes the arms, whichare secured to the end portions of the shaft N, outside the brackets C.These arms extend upwardly and forwardly from the said shaft and havesecured thereto a base plate M to which in turn a plurality ofinverted'V-shaped ribs M are secured, providing grooves M therebetweenfor bottles the bottoms of which are deposited upon the platform L.Between the ribs M and the base M, there is inserted a metal sheet Mhaving its upper end flanged, as shown at M and to which flange there issecured a transversely extending sill M the rear edge of which isadapted to engage the necks of the bottles, as indicated in Figs. 6 to 9inclusive. A coiled spring 0, which is connected at one end with one ofthe arms M and at its opposite end with one of the uprights A, tends torock the arms rearwardly or toward the transfer tray.

As is well known to those familiar with the art to which this inventionrelates, where conveyors having transverse series of bottle supports areadvanced intermittently through bottle-cleaning apparatus, it isessential that the bottle-charging mechanism be so operated and so timedin operation that bottles will be delivered into each series of supportsonly when such series and the final r rocking arm K. This arm isprovided in its upper end with a slot K in which is mounted a stud K andon the said stud is swiveled a sleeve K through which there extends arod P having itsfront end threaded and provided thereon with a washer Pand nuts P there being a coiled spring P interposed between the saidwasher and a washer P bearing against the rear end of the sleeve K". Therear portion of the rod P is threaded and is provided with an adjustablesleeve 1 thereon which maybe pinned at the proper point to the said rodwhereby to transfer the forward movement of the said rod to the sleeve Kand thence to the arm K and shaft K. i

P denotes a tubular extension of the P having its rear end provided witha threaded extension P which extension is threaded into a sleeve 1?which is rotatably mounted rod upon a stud Q/ in the lower end of anangle lever Q, the said lever being pivoted to a bracket Q on the sideof the apparatus, the pivot being indicated at Q At the rear of saidpivot, the angle lever is provided with a roller Q, which enters anappropriate track R in a cam R which is driven at the proper speed by ashaft S. It will be obvious that, by the rotation of the shaft S, thearms J will be rocked back and forth, thereby to reciprocate the crossbar J and to tilt the tray G in a manner to be described moreparticularly hereinafter.

For the purpose of rocking the arms M and the parts attached thereto, Ihave provided the shaft N with an arm N having a slot l 2 in the upperend thereof, within which slot there is mounted a stud T having a sleeveT mounted thereon into which is threaded the front end of a rod T Therear end of this rod is connected with one arm U of a bell crank lever,the said arm and the arm U of said lever being pivoted upon a stud U andthe upper end of the arm U being provided with a roller U engaging theouter surface of a cam track R on the cam R.

It will be evident that the spring O maintains the roller U in contactwith the exterior cam R during the movements of the rockingtransfer-frame to which the arms M are attached. In like manner thespring P serves to hold the roller Q against the outer surface of thetrack R.

l/Vith the parts constructed and arranged as described, the operationwill be readily understood. The cam R will be rotated by the shaft S,which, in bottle-cleaning apparatus of the type with which this chargingmechanism is to be employed, will be driven in timed relation withrespect to the means for feeding the bottle supports intermittently andin timed relation with respect to the other movable means which operateupon-the bottles in transit. The rotation of the cam will reciprocatethe rods P and T in the manner described; and the rod T will oscillatethe bottle-delivery tray MM to deliver the bottles onto the transfertray G, while the rod 1? will oscillate the said tray.

The parts will be so timed that, when the operator has placed thebottles by hand on the platform L, with their sides resting in thegrooves M and their necks engaged by the bars M the tray G will havebeen swung forwardly to the position shown in Fig. 6. The rod J, throughits engagement with the screws G", will have rocked the tray G to theinclined position shown in this figure, the rod J being adjacent to thebottoms of the slots E. v The rotation of the cam will then cause thearms M to rock rearwardly, moving the bottles across the platform anddelivering them with their bottoms upon the rod J and their rear sidesresting in the grooves provided therefor in the upwardly and rearwardlyinclined tray G-see Figs. 6 and 7 A further rotation of the cam willmove the tray M, M forwardly to its receivingposition and will also rockthe tray G to its horizontal or delivering position (see Fig. 8). Astill further rotation of the cam will move the arms J rearwardly,thereby causing the rodJ to push the bottles along the table D and intothe transverse series of bottle holders B in line therewith.

Following this operation, the cycle will be repeated, the conveyor ofwhich the bottle holders form a part having been advanced onestep tobring into-receiving position the transverse series of bottle holdersnext adjacent the one just loaded.

Referenece has been made hereinbefo-re to the apron G This apron closesthe gap be tween the rear end of the platformL and the front end of thetray G when the latter is in its deliveringposition; and it also servesto close this gap during the rocking of the tray upon the shaft F'whenit is being swung toreceiving and delivering positions, It thus servesto prevent any material from entering the space between the tray G andplatform L and from thus interfering with the operation of the saidtray.

By the construction and'arrangement of parts and the mode of operatingthe same, I have produced a bottle-charging mechanism which can beoperated at :relatively high speed and one wherein the 'danger ofbreaking the bottles during suchv operation is reduced to a minimum.This reduction of breakage is due, not only to the cushionedconstruction of the receiving platform L and the cushioned constructionof the transfer tray G, but to the-employment of the springs O and P Theformer spring serves to maintain the roller U in contact with the cam Rthus permitting the cam'to move away from the roller in the event thatthere should be any blocking of the movement of the tray M. The spring Ppermits the link 1? to be moved rearwardlywithout movement of the leverJ and the rod J in case of an obstruction to the movement of, thebottles by saidrod and without danger of breakage'to the bottlesdue tosuch obstruction. r 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. Mechanism for charging series ofbot tles successively intocorresponding series of holders in a bottle washing apparatus, the saidmechanism comprising a platform on which the bottles are placed, atransfer tray having a plurality of grooves therein for the reception ofthe bodies of bottles, means pivotally supporting the said tray, meansfor rocking the said tray upon its support thereby tobring it intoreceiving position with reference to the platform and thereafter into aposition for delivering the bottles therefrom, a pair of bracket armspivotally 7 supported adjacent the front ends thereof series of holders,means for delivering the bottles from the platform to the tray, meansfor delivering the bottles from the tray to the table and thence to aseries'of holders, and means carried by the rear or delivery end of thetray and the front or receiving end of the table for adjusting thepositions of the adjacent ends of such tray and table to insure properalignment of the bottle receiving grooves thereon. V

2. Mechanism for charging series of hottles successively intocorresponding series of holders in a bottle washing apparatus, the saidmechanism'comprising a platform on which the bottles are placed, atransfer tray, means pivotallysupportin'g the said tray; means forrockingthe said tray upon its support thereby to bring it into receivingposition with reference to the platform and thereafter into a positionfor delivering the bottles therefrom, a pair of bracket arms pivotallysupported adjacentthe rear ends thereof and-having the front ends inproximity to the series of bottle'holders, a table sup' ported by andbetween the said arms, means adjustably supporting the rear or deliveryends ofsaid bracket arms to align the table with the'successive seriesof holders, means for'aligning the rear or delivery end of the tray,withreference to the front or receiving end of the table, means fordelivering the bottles from theplatform to the tray, and means fordelivering the bottles from the tray to the table and thence to a seriesof holders.

7 3; Mechanism for charging series of bot- 3 tles successively intocorresponding series of i7 a position for delivering the bottlestherefrom, a pair of bracket arms, a table supported onsaid arms betweenthe tray and the series of holders and having grooves in the top thereofadapted to register, with the grooves in the tray, the said arms havingelongated slots therein extending above the table and above the traywhen the latter is in delivering position, a rod mounted in said slots,an arm at each side of the bracket arms,

' i each of the last mentioned arms having a slot in which an end of thesaid rod is mounted, means including the last-mentioned armsand said rodfor rocking the tray to bring the same into receiving position withreference to the platform, means for moving the bottles from thesaidcplatform into the grooves on said tray, with their bottoms abovesaid rod, means for operating the said last-mentioned arms in thereverse direction thereby to rock the tray to delivering position and,by fur ther movement of the arms in the same direction, to deliver thebottles from the tray to the table and thence to a series of holders.

4L. Mechanism for charging series of hottles successively intocorresponding series of holders in a bottle washing apparatus, the saidmechanism comprising a platform for receiving bottles, a tray havinggrooves therein for the bodies'of the bottles, means pivotallysupporting said tray adjacent the delivery end of said platform, 'meansfor rocking the said tray in reverse directions thereby to bring it intobottle receiving and bottle delivery positions, the said meanscomprising a rod extending normally across the receiving portion of saidtray, arms having slots thereinand in which the opposite ends of thesaid rod are mounted, there being guide slots for said rod between thesaid arms and the said tray, the portions of said slots adjacent to theplatform being concentric with the center of rotation of the tray, meanscarried by the tray and engaged by said rod whereby the movement of thearms toward the platform will rock the tray to bottle receiving positionwith reference to said plat form, means for delivering bottles from theplatform to the grooves in said tray, and V yielding means for rockingthe arms in the opposite direction whereby the tray is rocked to bottledelivering position and the rod yieldingly engages the bottoms of thebottles to push them from the said'tray toward a series of bottleholders.

5. Mechanism for charging series of hottles successively intocorresponding series of holders in a bottle washing apparatus, the saidmechanism comprising a'platform for receiving bottles, a transfer tray,means 'pivotally supporting said tray adjacentthe delivery end of saidplatform, means for rocking the said tray in reverse directions therebyto bring it into bottle receiving and bottle delivering positions, thesaid meanscomprising a rod extending normally across the receivingportion of said tray, means for rocking saidrod, means carried by thetray and engaged by said rod whereby the movement of the rod toward theplatform will rock the tray to bottle receiving position with refer enceto said platform, means for delivering bottles from the platform to thesaid tray, and yielding means for rocking therod in the oppositedirection whereby the tray is rocked to bottle delivering position andthe bodies of bottles, means pivotally supporting the said tray, meansfor rocking the said tray upon its support thereby to bring it into receiving position with reference to the platform and thereafter into aposition to deliver the bottles therefrom, a series of holders, adelivery rack, arms pivotally supporting the said rack and normallyholding the same at the front or receiving end of said platform, andmeans for rocking the said arms, the said means comprising a linkconnected with one of said arms, a cam for operating said link to movethe rack to bottle receiving position, and a spring connected with saidrack and arms for moving the same to bottle delivering position. 7

7 Mechanism for charging series of bottles successively intocorresponding series of holders in a bottle washing apparatus, the saidmechanism comprising a platform on which the bottles are placed, atransfer tray for the reception of the bodies of bottles, means movablysupporting the said tray, means for moving the said tray thereby to Ibring it into receiving position with reference to the platform andthereafter into a posi tion to deliver the'bottles therefrom to a seriesof holders, a delivery rack, means normally holding the rack at thefront or receiving end of the said platform, and yieldable means formoving the said rack across the said platform to deliver the series ofbottles thereon to said tray.

8. Mechanism for charging series of bottles successively into bottlewashing apparatus, the said mechanism comprising a platform on which thebottles are placed bottoms down, a movable delivery rack having groovesfor the reception of the bodies of the bottles and mounted to swingacross and above the said platform to push the bottles therefrom, atransfer tray having a plurality of longitudinal grooves for thereception of the bodies of bottles, means pivotally supporting the saidtray, means for rocking the said tray upon its support thereby to bringit into receiving position with reference to the platform and in aposition to deliver the bottles to a series of holders in saidapparatus, and means cooperating with said tray for supporting thebottoms of the bottles delivered thereto by said rack and for moving thebottles along said tray.

9. Mechanism for charging series of bottles successively intocorresponding series of holders in a bottle washing apparatus, the saidmechanism comprising a platform on which the bottles are placed bottomsdown, a transfer tray, having a plurality of grooves therein for thereception of the bodies of bottles, means pivotally supporting the saidtray, means for rocking the said tray upon its support thereby to bringit into receiving position with reference to the platform and in aposition to deliver the bottles therefrom to a series of holders, a rackreciprocable across said platform for delivering bottles therefrom tosaid tray, means swinging with the said tray and movable longitudinallvthereof for supporting the bottoms of the bottles delivered thereto bythe rack and for moving the bottles along said tray for delivery to thesaid holders.

10. Mechanism for charging series of hottles successively intocorresponding series of holders in a bottle washing apparatus, the saidmechanism comprising a platform on which the bottles are placed, atransfer tray, means pivotally supporting the said tray, means forrocking the said tray upon its support thereby to bring it intoreceiving position with reference to the platform and in a position todeliver the bottles therefrom to a series of holders, a rackreciprocable across said platform for delivering bottles therefrom tosaid tray, and means swinging with the said tray and movablelongitudinally thereof for supporting the bottoms of the bottlesdelivered thereto by the rack and. for moving the bottles along saidtray for delivcry to the said holders.

11. Mechanism for charging a series of bottles successively into seriesof holders in a bottle washing apparatus, the said. mechanism comprisinga platform on which the bottles are placed, a pair of arms pivotedadjacent the sides of said platform and normally extending upwardly andforwardly thereabove, a rack supported by said arms, a transfer traypivoted between the said platform and the bottle cleaning apparatus, arod extending across and normally adjacent the rear of the said tray andadapted to receive the bottoms of the bottles delivered to said tray, anarm at each side of the said tray, said arms having each a slot at theupper end thereof for the reception of an end of said rod, the said trayhaving a projection adapted to engage the said rod whereby the tray willbe rocked by said arms and the bot tles delivered to the said tray willbe pushed longitudinally along the tray by said rod, a shaft, andconnections between said shaft and the aforesaid arms for operating therack and tray and rod in proper timed relation to enable the rack todeliver bottles from the platform to the tray and the tray to receivesaid bottles and the rod to deliver them to the appropriate series ofholders.

'12. Mechanism for charging a series of bottles successively intoseriesof holders the bottles are placed, a delivery rack, a

transfer tray pivoted between the said p1atform and the bottle cleaningapparatus, a rod extending across and normally adjacent the rear of thesaid trayand adapted to receive the bottoms of the bottles delivered tosaid tray, a shaft, and connections between said shaft and the aforesaidrack and rod for operating the rack and tray in proper timed relation toenable the rack to deliver bottles from the platform to the tray and thetray to receive said bottles and the rod to deliver them from the trayto the appropriate series of holders.

l3. Mechanism for charging a series of bottles successively into seriesof holders in bottle cleaning apparatus, the said mechanism comprising aplatform on which the bottles are placed, a transfer tray pivotallymounted to swing to bottle receiving position with reference to saidplatform and to delivering position with reference to the saidholders,and means for rocking the said tray and for forcing the bottlestherefrom into said holders, the said means comprising a pair of armspivoted below the said tray and each having a slotted upper endextending above the bottom of said tray, a rod having its end portionsmounted in the slots in said arms and a projection on the rear portionof the tray adapted to engage said rod, there being slotted guides forthe ends of the rod beyond the said arms, the portions of the guidesadjacent to the platform being curved on an arc concentric with thecenter of rotation of said tray, means for delivering the bottles fromthe platform onto the said tray when the, latter is in receivingposition with refer ence to the platform, means for rocking the saidarms in one direction to move the tray into such receiving position, andmeans for rocking the arms in the opposite direction thereby to rotatethe tray into delivering position and to move the rod longitudinally ofthe tray thereby to deliver the bottles therefrom to the holders.

14;. Mechanismfor charging a series of bottles successively into seriesof holders in hottle cleaning apparatus, the said mechanism comprising aplatform on which the bottles are placed, a transfer tray pivotallymounted to swing to bottle receiving posit-ion with reference to saidplatform and to delivering po sition with reference to the said holders,and means for rocking the said tray and for forcing the bottlestherefrom into said holders, the said. means comprising a rod normallyextending across and above the rear of said tray and adapted to engagethe rear portion of said tray, means for delivering the bottles from theplatform onto the said tray when the latter is in receiving positionwith reference to the platform, means'for' rocking the; said rod inonedirection to move the tray into such receiving position and means "forrocking the rod in the opposite direction thereby to rotate the trayinto deliveringposition and to move the rod longitudinally ofv the traythereby to deliver the bottles there from to the holders.

15. Mechanism for charging series of hottles successively into series ofholders in bottle washing apparatus, said mechanism comprising aplatform on which the bottles are placed, a delivery rack movable acrossthe' said platform to dislodge the bottles therefrom, a transfer trayfor bottles delivered thereto from the platform and pivotally supportedat the rear of said platform, yieldable means for moving the said rack'across thesaid platform to deliver bottles therefrom to said tray, andyieldable means for rocking the said tray to delivering position and forforcing the bottles therefrom to saic holders. 7

16. Mechanism for charging series of bottles successively into series ofholders in hottle washing apparatus, the said mechanism comprising acushioned platform on which the bottles are placed,acushioned transfertray, yieldable means for pushing the bottles from the platform upon thetray, means for rocking the said tray into position for receiving thebottles from the platform and thence into a position for delivering thebot-' ties to said holders, and yieldable means for delivering thebottles from the said tray to the said holders.

17. Mechanism for charging series of bots tles successively into seriesof holders in bottle washing apparatus, the said mechanism comprising aplatform on which bottles are deposited bottoms down, a transfer traypivoted adjacent said platform and adapted to be moved into bottlereceiving position with reference to said platform and thence intobottle delivery position with reference to said holders, and means formoving the bottles from the platform onto the said tray, the said meanscomprising a pivotally supported rack having grooves therein locatedabove the platform for the reception of the bodies of the bottles andacrail above such grooves adapted to engage the necks of saidbottles,'and means for'rocking the said rack.

18. Mechanism for charging series of bottles successively into series ofholders in bottle washing apparatus, said mechanism comprising aplatform on which the bottles comprising a series are placed with theirhottoms downward, av delivery rack movable across the'said platform todislodge the botsaid platform to deliver bottles therefrom to said trayand to return the rack to a position to engage the forward sides of asucceeding series of bottles placed on the said platform, and means formoving the said tray to a position for receiving the bottles from theplatform and to a position whence the bottles may be delivered from saidtray to a series of said holders.

19. Mechanism for charging series of bottles successively to a series ofholders in hottle washing apparatus, said mechanism comprising aplatform on which the bottles are placed bottom downward, a deliveryrack having grooves for the reception of the front sides of the bottleson the said platform and reciprocable across the platform to dislodgethe bottles therefrom and to return to a position wherein the groovesare adapted to re ceive the forward sides of a succeeding series ofbottles, a transfer tray also having grooves for the opposite sides ofthe bottles delivered thereto from the platform and being movable towardand from the said platform, means for moving the said rack across thesaid platform to deliver bottles therefrom to said tray and return therack to a position to engage the forward sides of a succeeding series ofbottles placed on the said platform, and means for moving the said trayto a position for receiving the bottles from the platform and to aposition whence the bottles may be delivered from said tray to a seriesof said holders.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto am): my

signature.

JOHN R. GRUETTER.

